More than 2,000 people were buried alive in a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea . pic.twitter.com/avgy49mEPg
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) May 27, 2024
A catastrophic landslide in Papua New Guinea has buried as many as 2,000 people, a figure dramatically higher than initial UN estimates of 670. The government’s National Disaster Center reports devastating destruction in Yambali village, Enga province. Local authorities have only recovered the remains of five victims, highlighting the dire conditions on the ground.
The landslide buried more than 150 homes, trapping entire families. Villagers are using shovels and farming tools to search for bodies, facing the dangerous shifting debris and continuous water flow under the rubble. The lack of heavy machinery complicates rescue efforts, and the situation remains perilous for both survivors and rescue teams.
Challenging conditions, such as the village’s remote location and lack of telecommunications, hinder the accurate determination of the death toll. Tribal warfare exacerbates the situation, necessitating military escorts for aid workers. At least 26 tribal warriors and mercenaries were killed in a recent battle in Enga, further complicating relief efforts.
The disaster’s economic impact is profound, with a 200-meter stretch of the province’s main highway buried under 6 to 8 meters of debris, obstructing relief operations. The national government’s unreliable census data adds to the challenges, with population estimates ranging from 10 to 17 million.
Traumatized villagers are divided over using heavy machinery, fearing further damage to the bodies of their buried relatives. An excavator donated by a local builder marks the first significant aid, but more international support is urgently needed. Mana’s office has provided 500,000 kina for emergency supplies for 4,000 displaced survivors, yet the need for extensive aid continues to grow.
More than 2,000 people have been “buried alive” by a landslide in Papua New Guinea
As many as 2,000 people are feared to have been buried by last week’s massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, according to the country’s National Disaster Centre. This figure is about three times… pic.twitter.com/xk4D19KSVl
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 27, 2024